Touch window

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a touch window. The touch window includes a cover substrate; a ground electrode on the cover substrate; and a circuit substrate on the cover substrate, including a ground connecting part connected with the ground electrode and an open area to expose the ground connecting part, wherein the ground electrode is electrically connected to the ground connecting part through the open area.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2013-0111413, filed Sep. 16, 2013, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a touch window.

A touch window is installed on a display surface of an image displaydevice such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD),a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and anelectro-luminescence device (ELD), so that a user inputs predeterminedinformation into an electronic appliance by pressing the touch panelwhile viewing the image display device.

Due to the static electricity or ESD (Electric Static Discharge)generated from such a touch window, electrical signal interference iscaused so that the accuracy of a touch is deteriorated.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The embodiment provides a touch window having the improved reliability.

A touch window according to the embodiment includes a cover substrate; aground electrode on the cover substrate; and a circuit substrate on thecover substrate, including a ground connecting part connected with theground electrode and an open area to expose the ground connecting part,wherein the ground electrode is electrically connected to the groundconnecting part through the open area.

The ground electrode is disposed on the cover substrate included in thetouch window according to the embodiment. The ground electrode preventsstatic electricity or ESD in the touch window. That is, the staticelectricity or ESD moves along a path of the ground electrode, an thatthe static electricity or ESD can be prevented from being introducedinto the touch window. The ground electrode is disposed along the edgeof the cover substrate, so that the static electricity or ESD can beeffectively prevented from being introduced into the touch window. Theground electrode is connected to the circuit substrate so that the ESDin the touch window can be discharged as an electrical signal.

Thus, signal interference is prevented, so that accuracy and reliabilityof a touch can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exploded touch window accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along tine A-A′ of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are perspective views showing exploded touch windowsaccording to other embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the embodiments, it will be understoodthat, when a layer (or film), a region, a pattern, or a structure isreferred to as being “on” or “under” another substrate, another layer(or film), another region, another pad, or another pattern, it can be“directly” or “indirectly” on the other substrate, layer (or film),region, pad, or pattern, or one or more intervening layers may also bepresent. Such a position of the layer has been described with referenceto the drawings.

The thickness and size of each layer shown in the drawings may beexaggerated, omitted or schematically drawn for the purpose ofconvenience or clarity In addition, the size of elements does notutterly reflect an actual size.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference toaccompanying drawings.

First, a touch window according to an embodiment will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective viewshowing an exploded touch window according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is asectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the touch window includes a cover substrate100, an electrode substrate 200 and a circuit substrate 300.

The cover substrate 100 is disposed at the uppermost position of thetouch window, An input device such as a finger may be touched to a topsurface of the cover substrate 100. The cover substrate 100 may protectvarious elements disposed below the cover substrate 100. For example,the cover substrate 100 may include strengthened glass,half-strengthened glass, sodalime glass or strengthened plastic.

A first area 1A and a second area 2A surrounding the first area 1A aredefined in the cover substrate 100. The first area 1A may include adisplay area in which a real user performs a touch instruction input.

The electrode substrate 200 may be disposed at a position correspondingto the first area 1A. That is, the electrode substrate 200 may bedisposed to overlap the first area 1A. Therefore, a touch and aninformation input may be performed through the first area 1A.

The ground electrode 130 may be disposed in the second area 2A. Indetail, the cover substrate 100 may include one surface 100 a throughwhich a real user performs a touch instruction input and the oppositesurface to the one surface 100 a, and the ground electrode 130 may bedisposed at an edge of the opposite surface 100 b. Thus, the groundelectrode 130 may be disposed in the remaining area except for the areain which the electrode substrate 200 is disposed. The ground electrode130 may be disposed such that the ground electrode 130 does not makecontact with the electrode substrate 200. The ground electrode 130 maynot overlap the electrode substrate 200.

The ground electrode 130 may be disposed along a border of the secondarea 2A. The ground electrode 130 may have various line widths to theextent that the ground electrode 130 does not overlap with the electrodesubstrate 200.

Meanwhile, an outer dummy layer may be formed in the second area 2A suchthat the ground electrode 130, a wire and a circuit substrate are notseen from an outside, The outer dummy layer may be formed by coating amaterial having a predetermined color. The outer dummy layer may have acolor suitable for an outer appearance. For example, the outer dummylayer may include a black pigment to present a black color. The outerdummy layer may be formed through a depositing, printing or wet coatingscheme. In this case, the ground electrode 130 may be disposed on theouter dummy layer.

The ground electrode 130 prevents static electricity or ESD in the touchwindow. That is, the static electricity or ESD moves along a path of theground electrode 130, so that the static electricity or ESD can beprevented from being introduced into the touch window, The groundelectrode 130 is disposed along the edge of the cover substrate 100, sothat the static electricity or ESD can be effectively prevented frombeing introduced into the touch window. The ground electrode 130 may bedisposed along the entire edge of the cover substrate 100. The groundelectrode 130 is connected to the circuit substrate 300, so that the ESDin the touch window can be discharged as an electrical signal. Thus,signal interference is prevented, so that the accuracy and reliabilityof a touch can be improved,

The ground electrode 130 may include metal. The ground electrode 130 mayinclude low-resistance metal. For example, the ground electrode 130 mayinclude silver (Ag), copper (Cu) or nickel (Ni).

Meanwhile, the ground electrode 130 may include a carbon group material.Thus, the cost may be reduced and the circuit corrosion may beprevented. Therefore, the ground electrode 130 is usable for a touchdevice having various use environments.

Specifically, when the ground electrode 130 includes a silver-carbonmaterial, the ground electrode 130 may have a gray tone color.Therefore, this is useful in terms of design.

The ground electrode 130 may be formed by printing metallic paste or acarbon group material.

Meanwhile, a sensing electrode 210 and a wire 220 are disposed on theelectrode substrate 200.

The sensing electrode 210 may sense an input device. Although thesensing electrode 210 is depicted in a bar shape in FIG. 1, but theembodiment is not limited thereto. Thus, the sensing electrode 210 maybe formed in various shapes capable of sensing a touch of an inputdevice such as a finger.

The sensing electrode 210 may include a transparent conductive materialallowing electricity to flow therethrough without interrupting thetransmission of light. To this end, the sensing electrode 210 mayinclude various materials such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide,copper oxide, carbon nano tube (CNT) or an Ag nano wire.

Although the sensing electrode 210 extending in one direction isdepicted in FIG. 1, the embodiment is not limited thereto. The sensingelectrode 210 may include two types of sensing electrodes, one of whichextends in one direction and the other extends in another directioncrossing the one direction.

If the input device such as a finger is touched on such a touch window,a difference in capacitance is caused in the portion touched by theinput device, and the portion having the difference in capacitance maybe detected as a touch position.

The wire 220 may be disposed on the electrode substrate 200 for thepurpose of an electrical connection of the sensing electrode 210. Thewire 220 may include a material having excellent electricalconductivity. For example, the wire 220 may include Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Agand Mo, and the alloy thereof. Specifically, the wire 220 may includevarious metallic paste materials which may form the wire 220 through aprinting process.

A pad part 230 is disposed at an end of the wire 220. The pad part 230may be connected to the circuit substrate 300. The pad part 230 may beconnected to a connecting part 310 of the circuit substrate 300.

Various types of circuit substrates may be applied as the circuitsubstrate 300. For example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) maybe applied as the circuit substrate 300.

Although not shown in the drawings, a connector and a driving chip maybe mounted on the circuit substrate 300,

The circuit substrate 300 may include a top coverlay 360 and a bottomcoverlay 340. The wire and ground connecting parts 310 and 320 may beformed in the circuit substrate 300. In detail, wire and groundconnecting parts 310 and 320 may be formed in the bottom coverlay 340.

The wire and ground connecting parts 310 and 320 may be disposed onmutually different surfaces of the bottom coverlay 340. That is, thewire and ground connecting parts 310 and 320 may be disposed on bothsurfaces of the bottom coverlay 340, respectively. The wire connectingpart 310 may be disposed to face the electrode substrate 200. The groundconnecting part 320 may be disposed to face the cover substrate 100,

The wire connecting part 310 may be connected to the wire 220. Indetail, the wire connecting part 310 may be connected to the pad part230 disposed at the end of the wire 220. Thus, the wire connecting part310 may be electrically connected to the pad part 230 so that the wireconnecting part 310 may be transferred to the pad part 230,

The ground connecting part 320 may be connected to the ground electrode130. The ground connecting part 320 may be connected to the groundelectrode 130 through an adhesive layer 400 and an open area OA.

In detail, the circuit substrate 300 includes the open area OA. The openarea OA is disposed at a portion of the circuit substrate 300. The openarea OA is disposed in the top coverlay 360. The open area OA isdisposed over the ground connecting part 320.

The ground connecting part may be exposed through the open area OA. Inaddition, the open area OA may expose a portion of the adhesive layer400. Thus, the ground connecting part 320, the adhesive layer 400 andthe ground electrode 130 may be connected to each other through the openarea OA. In this case, the adhesive layer 400 may include a conductivematerial.

Although the ground connecting unit 320, the open area OA of the circuitsubstrate 300 and the adhesive layer 400 are depicted in FIG. 2 asspaced apart from each other, the ground connecting part 320, theadhesive layer 400 and the ground electrode 130 may really make contactwith each other through the open area OA. Titus, the ground connectingpart and the ground electrode 130 may be electrically connected to eachother,

Therefore, while the adhesive layer 400 adheres to the cover substrate100 and the circuit substrate 300, the adhesive layer 400 mayelectrically connect the ground electrode 130 to the ground connectingpart 320.

Hereinafter, a touch window according to another embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 In the following descriptionabout the touch window according to another embodiment, the partssimilar or identical to those of the previously described embodimentwill be omitted for the purpose of clear and brief description.

Referring to FIG, 3, the ground electrode 130, which is disposed on alower surface of the cover substrate 109, may have a ring shape. Thatis, the ground electrode 130 may include a curved line. However, theembodiment is not limited thereto, and the ground electrode 130 may havevarious shapes.

Referring to FIG. 4, a first ground electrode 130 is disposed on thelower surface of the cover substrate 100, First and second electrodesubstrates 201 and 202 are disposed on the lower surface of the coversubstrate 100.

A first sensing electrode 211 is disposed on the first electrodesubstrate 201 and a second ground electrode 249 is disposed adjacentlyto the first sensing electrode 211. In detail, the second groundelectrode 240 may be disposed at the outmost portion of the firstsensing electrode 211. That is, the second ground electrode 240 may bedisposed at an outer portion of the first electrode substrate 201.Meanwhile, the second ground electrode 240 may be disposed in the firstarea 1A which is a display area. Similarly with the first groundelectrode 130, the second ground electrode 240 prevents staticelectricity or ESD in the touch window. in addition, the second groundelectrode 249 may prevent signal interference of the first sensingelectrodes 211.

The second ground electrode 240 may be disposed to surround an outerportion of the first electrode substrate 201. However, differently fromthose depicted in the drawings, when long and short sides of the firstelectrode substrate 201 are defined, the second ground electrode 240 mayextend along the long side of the first electrode substrate 201. Thatis, the first ground electrode 130 may extend in the same direction asthe first sensing electrode 211.

A pad part 250 may be disposed at an end of the second ground electrode240, so that the pad part 250 may be connected to a connecting part 350of the circuit substrate 300.

Meanwhile, the second electrode substrate 202 may be disposed on a lowersurface of the first electrode substrate 201. In addition, a secondsensing electrode 212 is disposed on the second electrode substrate 202and a third ground electrode 241 is disposed adjacently to the secondsensing electrode 212. In detail, the third ground electrode 241 may bedisposed at the outmost portion of the second sensing electrode 212.That is, the third ground electrode 241 may be disposed at an outerportion of the second electrode substrate 202. Similarly with the firstground electrode 130, the third ground electrode 241 also preventsstatic electricity or ESD in the touch window. in addition, the thirdground electrode 241 may prevent signal interference of the secondsensing electrodes 212.

The third ground electrode 241 may be disposed to surround an outerportion of the second electrode substrate 202. However, differently fromthose depicted in the drawings, when long and short sides of the secondelectrode substrate 202 are defined, the third ground electrode 241 mayextend along the long side of the second electrode substrate 202. Thefirst ground electrode 130 may extend in a direction crossing theextension direction of the second sensing electrode 212.

A pad part 251 may he disposed at an end of the third ground electrode241, so that the pad part 251 may be connected to a connecting part 351of the second circuit substrate 301.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, sensing electrodes 210 may be disposed on theelectrode substrate 200 and second ground electrodes 240 may beinterposed between the sensing electrodes 210. In this case, the secondground electrodes 240 may be transparently formed. Thus, the secondground electrodes 240 may he prevented from being seen in the first areaIA which is a display area. In addition, a width of a bezel may bereduced, so that a wider display area may be achieved, therebyovercoming a limitation in terms of design.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first sensing electrode 211 may be formeddirectly on the lower surface of the cover substrate 100. Thus, anelectrode substrate for forming the first sensing electrode 211 may beomitted, so that the thickness of the touch window may be reduced.

In this case, the top coverlay 360 may include the first and second openareas OA1 and OA2.

The ground connecting part 320 and the wire connecting part 310 may bedisposed on the same plane on the bottom coverlay 360. Meanwhile, thesecond wire connecting part 311 may be disposed on an opposite surfaceof the bottom coverlay 360. The second wire connecting part 311 may facethe second electrode substrate 202.

The first open area OA1 may expose the ground connecting part 320. Thus,the ground connecting part. 320 and the ground electrode 130 may beconnected to each other.

The second open area OA2 may expose the wire connecting part 310. Thus,the wire connecting part 310 and the pad part 230 may be connected toeach other. Referring to FIG. 7, the first sensing electrode 211 may hedisposed on an upper surface of the electrode substrate 201 and thesecond sensing electrode 212 may he disposed on a lower surface of theelectrode substrate 200. Thus, the sensing electrodes 211 and 212 may beformed on a single electrode substrate, so that the thickness of thetouch window may be reduced.

Such a touch window may be disposed on a display panel which is adriving part. The touch window and the display panel may be combinedwith each other so that a touch device may be produced.

The touch window may be applied to a vehicle as well as a touch deviceof a mobile terminal. That is, the touch window is applied to adashboard as well as a PND (Personal Navigation Display) such as avehicle navigation, so that a CID (Center Information Display) may beimplemented. However, the embodiment is not limited to the above, andthe touch device may be used for various electronic appliances.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch window comprising: a cover substrate; aground electrode on the cover substrate; a circuit substrate on thecover substrate, including a ground connecting part connected with theground electrode and an open area to expose the ground connecting part;an electrode substrate on the cover substrate, the electrode substrateincluding a sensing electrode to sense a position and a wire toelectrically connect the sensing electrode; and a wire connecting partconnected to the wire; wherein the ground electrode is electricallyconnected to the ground connecting part through the open area; whereinthe circuit substrate includes a bottom coverlay on which the groundconnecting part and the wire connecting part are disposed, and a topcoverlay disposed on the bottom coverlay; and wherein the groundconnecting part and the wire connecting part are disposed on bothsurfaces of the bottom coverlay, respectively.
 2. The touch window ofclaim 1, wherein the open area is provided in the top coverlay.
 3. Thetouch window of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer betweenthe cover substrate and the circuit substrate.
 4. The touch window ofclaim 3, wherein the adhesive layer has conductivity.
 5. The touchwindow of claim 3, wherein the adhesive layer electrically connects theground electrode to the ground connecting part.
 6. The touch window ofclaim 1, further comprising a second ground electrode adjacent to thesensing electrode.
 7. The touch window of claim 6, wherein the sensingelectrode and the second ground electrode are disposed on a same plane.8. The touch window of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrode includes afirst sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode.
 9. The touchwindow of claim 8, wherein the electrode substrate includes a firstelectrode substrate and a second electrode substrate, the firstelectrode is disposed on the first electrode substrate, and the secondsensing electrode is disposed on the second electrode substrate.
 10. Thetouch window of claim 8, wherein the first sensing electrode is disposedon the cover substrate, and the second sensing electrode is disposed onthe electrode substrate.
 11. The touch window of claim 8, wherein thefirst and second sensing electrodes are disposed on both surfaces of theelectrode substrate.
 12. A touch device comprising: a display panel; anda touch window on the display panel, wherein the touch window comprises:a cover substrate; a ground electrode on the cover substrate; a circuitsubstrate on the cover substrate, including a ground connecting partconnected with the ground electrode and an open area to expose theground connecting part; an electrode substrate on the cover substrate,the electrode substrate including a sensing electrode to sense aposition and a wire to electrically connect the sensing electrode; and awire connecting part connected to the wire; wherein the ground electrodeis electrically connected to the ground connecting part through the openarea; wherein the circuit substrate includes a bottom coverlay on whichthe ground connecting part and the wire connecting part are disposed,and a top coverlay disposed on the bottom coverlay; and wherein theground connecting art and the wire connecting art are disposed on bothsurfaces of the bottom coverlay, respectively.